Nigerian policemen get 20% salary increase due to come into effect in January 2022

MEMBERS of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will get a 20% salary increase in the new year after the federal government approved a recommended pat rise for them at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

Overwhelmed by the spate of insecurity wracking the nation, Nigerian policemen are totally lacking in motivation as their remunerative packages are very poor. Constables only earn a paltry N43,000 per month despite putting their lives at risk and to motivate them to step up the fight against crime, the increase has been tabled.

Among other things, Nigeria is currently under siege from Boko Haram, armed Fulani herdsmen, bandits and kidnappers, who all operate with impunity. Only this week, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly was killed by hoodlums near Zaria and government officials are regularly kidnapped for ransom.

Minister of police affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, said that to help combat this crime wave, the cabinet has approved the 20% past rose for police personnel.  He added that the increase will take effect from January 2022.

According to Mr Dingyadi, the upward review is a product of the issues raised during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020. During that protest, Nigerian youths took to the street to protest against the daily extortion they suffer at the hands of the police, especially the members of the Special Anti Robbery Squad.